The kids in my 2nd-grade class are dropping like flies, there is a chorus of coughing and sneezing around circle time, and I know a few people who’ve had a nasty flu. No thank you. Even if you don’t work in a petry dish of germs like I do, here are 5 simple and effective strategies to boost your immune system. Prevention is always the best bet!

Feeling the pressure of a new year? Maybe the disappointment of another year gone by, and somewhere along the way you lost sight of all those shiny 2018 goals? NEW YEAR NEW YOU?!

Yeah. I’ve been reading people’s posts about goals and resolutions and “ARE YOU READY”s - I even posted about it myself once , and I stand by that advice and those strategies, but something in me has shifted and right now all of that JUST MAKES ME FEEL STRESS AND PRESSURE. So here is what I propose instead, and what I came into myself in the homestretch of 2018:

While I love just eating the fruit, this juice (which really tastes just like an Orange Julius, without all the sugar) is a super delicious and easy way to change things up. Additionally, the turmeric and cinnamon kick up the flavor and the health-boosting properites: turmeric is anti-inflammatory, as well as mood and brain-boosting; cinnamon, in addition to being a warming winter-spice (a good pairing with the warm-weather citrus fruit) and blood-sugar stabilizing, also fights viruses and infections! Keep it coming.

In the cold months, this is one of my go-to night time desserts. I used raw cacao, considered a super-food for it's high nutritient and antioxidant profile. Cacao also contains high levels of magnesium, the "calm mineral," so it's great for anyone dealing with stress or anxiety and good for night time. (If you're super sensitive to caffeine, you might not want this before bed however.) I've also added ashwagandha, an ayurvedic and adaptogenic herb that nourishes your adrenal glands, helps your body deal with stress and fatigue, is good for memory and focus, and stabilizes blood sugar. You can also add maca powder, another adaptogen, to really up the adrenal-boosting properties, and collagen for a nourishing protein boost. Like all my recipes, it's naturally low-glycemic and is paleo-friendly. The best part though is it whips up in the time it takes to heat up a cup of your milk on the stove, and is rich, chocolately, and just goooood. I've been making it every night, and will continue to do so until I get tired of it.

Hi friend. Put down the caffeine-infused chemical cocktail that is a pumpkin spice latte, and drink this delicious pumpkin spice smoothie instead. It will give you a good hit of all those yummy pumpkin spice flavors, plus healthy carbs, healthy fats, protein, and also some extra veggies snuck in there, so you feel satisfied and energized, not anxious, stressed, or fatigued from blood sugar and caffeine crashes.

The kids in my 2nd-grade class are dropping like flies, there is a chorus of coughing and sneezing around circle time, and I know a few people who’ve had a nasty flu. No thank you. Even if you don’t work in a petry dish of germs like I do, here are 5 simple and effective strategies to boost your immune system. Prevention is always the best bet!

Feeling the pressure of a new year? Maybe the disappointment of another year gone by, and somewhere along the way you lost sight of all those shiny 2018 goals? NEW YEAR NEW YOU?!

Yeah. I’ve been reading people’s posts about goals and resolutions and “ARE YOU READY”s - I even posted about it myself once , and I stand by that advice and those strategies, but something in me has shifted and right now all of that JUST MAKES ME FEEL STRESS AND PRESSURE. So here is what I propose instead, and what I came into myself in the homestretch of 2018:

While I love just eating the fruit, this juice (which really tastes just like an Orange Julius, without all the sugar) is a super delicious and easy way to change things up. Additionally, the turmeric and cinnamon kick up the flavor and the health-boosting properites: turmeric is anti-inflammatory, as well as mood and brain-boosting; cinnamon, in addition to being a warming winter-spice (a good pairing with the warm-weather citrus fruit) and blood-sugar stabilizing, also fights viruses and infections! Keep it coming.

In the cold months, this is one of my go-to night time desserts. I used raw cacao, considered a super-food for it's high nutritient and antioxidant profile. Cacao also contains high levels of magnesium, the "calm mineral," so it's great for anyone dealing with stress or anxiety and good for night time. (If you're super sensitive to caffeine, you might not want this before bed however.) I've also added ashwagandha, an ayurvedic and adaptogenic herb that nourishes your adrenal glands, helps your body deal with stress and fatigue, is good for memory and focus, and stabilizes blood sugar. You can also add maca powder, another adaptogen, to really up the adrenal-boosting properties, and collagen for a nourishing protein boost. Like all my recipes, it's naturally low-glycemic and is paleo-friendly. The best part though is it whips up in the time it takes to heat up a cup of your milk on the stove, and is rich, chocolately, and just goooood. I've been making it every night, and will continue to do so until I get tired of it.

Hi friend. Put down the caffeine-infused chemical cocktail that is a pumpkin spice latte, and drink this delicious pumpkin spice smoothie instead. It will give you a good hit of all those yummy pumpkin spice flavors, plus healthy carbs, healthy fats, protein, and also some extra veggies snuck in there, so you feel satisfied and energized, not anxious, stressed, or fatigued from blood sugar and caffeine crashes.

Hey friend! One of the first things I did when I shifted my eating habits a few years ago was to incorporate more vegetables, especially greens. On a good day, I eat some sort of greens at every meal! In this week's video, I give you some easy tips on exactly how to add in more greens. So go ahead - throw some greens on it!

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they're like - it's better than yours... it might be made of cauliflower, but it tastes like a chocolate milkshake - thick and creamy and chocolaty - and makes a super satisfying summertime breakfast or post-workout refuel. It's also packed with fiber, nutrients, and protein, and is low in sugar. The cauliflower might sound like an odd choice for a smoothie, but it is virtually undetectable when blended with all the other ingredients, and it creates a thick and creamy fiber-rich, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous, low-glycemic base for stable blood sugar. Stable blood sugar = stable mood and energy, and over-time a trim waistline.

This bean salad is everything. This is my copy-cat version of something my ex's mom used to make big vat of for the holidays, and I would always chow it. I don't actually know what went into the original dressing, but flavor-wise this version is spot on, and as I do, I gave it the healthy-treatment. It really is the perfect summer (or anytime) dish - it doesn't require any cooking , and you can eat it as a dip with tortilla chips, as a side salad, taco filling, or on a green salad to give it a taco flair. It's also super healthy and is just about everything "free" - no gluten, dairy, or refined sugar (or can be totally sugar free), is vegan-friendly, and has fiber and protein from all the beans, so it's safe for just about anyone to eat. But mostly, it's just so tasty and satisfying.

This slaw is quick to whip together, and packed with flavor. It's tangy, creamy, and crunchy, with an Asian twist. It's good enough to stand on its own, or as a topping for tacos, salads, or as a side for grilled meats and veggies.

You may love avocados in guacamole or toast form, but trust me when I say they make an excellent vessel for chocolate. This super rich and decadent chocolate avocado mousse is not only amazingly delicious and will satisfy even the most intense chocolate cravings, it's also crazy good for you

If I were going to make a recipe to impress someone, it might be these savory salmon cakes. Forget healthy (and they are), these salmon cakes are just so crazy good. All the flavor, great texture, super satisfying. And yeah, super good for you, too. One of salmon's many health benefits is that it's loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce depression and inflammation. So if you're recovering from a broken heart, are super stressed, or just feeling kind of blah, eat this delicious mood boosting meal. Less inflammation also means you will feel better, mind and body. I've subbed almond flour for the usual wheat flour, so they're super low glycemic, gluten free, and protein-packed, which is great for balanced blood sugar. Stable blood sugar = a more stable mood (no hangries, please and thank you) and also a flat tummy.

These almond butter bliss balls are an easy make-ahead snack that's perfect for that mid-afternoon slump, pre-workout, or even a quick breakfast on the go. They're filled with protein and healthy fats to keep you satisfied and keep your blood sugar from plummeting (read: no hangries, or crazy cravings), and so tasty! I've added maca powder for some adrenal support, to help keep your bod and hormones balanced from all of life's stresses.

The closing of the old, the dawn of the new. The new year's resolutions. So much possibility...so much pressure. How often do your resolutions stick? Or have you given up on them altogether, because of past failures? Eating healthier, getting to the gym, a daily meditation practice, gratitude journaling, having more patience with your kids, making a bigger dent in your student loans, spending more time with your friends, starting that blog or business idea. Whatever your new year's resolution, lasting change is hard.

Here are four key strategies to make your New Year's resolutions come true.

This drink is my new go-to. Creamy, comforting, and a little bit sweet, it hits all those spots in super healthy way. Plus I've added adaptogens to help your body manage the stress from a broken heart, cuz heartbreak puts some big ‘ole strain on the body. All it takes is some heating and blending - so easy you could make it every day. And since it's caffeine-free, you can sip it in the afternoon or evening without worrying about disrupting your sleep.

This baba ganoush (aka roasted eggplant dip) is a non-recipe recipe, which is to say it's how I cook most of the time. It's creamy, delicious, and easy, and it hits that oh-so-important tangy, umami spot that we all jones for sometimes in a healthy way.

I feel like this has been the year of rejection. Small rejections all the way to soul-crushing rejections. And not coincidentally, also one of the most powerful years of my life. Not always the most fun (although there has been a lot of fun), and definitely not the easiest, but in a whole caterpillar into butterfly, beautiful growing pains way kind of best.

So. Maybe you're working hard to make some changes in your life, and things just aren't going your way. Maybe you were dealt a really rough blow, or a series of small rejections. Please don't give up! Try this. (From someone who knows.)

Bone Broth.

Oh I'm sorry, are you disappointed? You won't be after reading this. ;) All the cool kids are doing it. Really.

Bone broth is one of those "everything old is new again" phenomenon. It's a traditional food in many cultures, and for reason alone it should probably should be part of your diet. What likely started as a way to use all the parts of an animal, bone broth is simply the strained liquid made from boiled down animal bones (chicken, pork, beef, or fish) with vinegar and water, and maybe some vegetables and spices. It gives you good skin, good digestion, a strong immune system, and is also good for achey joints!

Standards are about meeting your best effort, at your growing edge, where you are NOW. As you grow, so do your standards. Perfectionism is about control. Control has the appearance of, well, control, but it's really about fear.